The department must issue a massage therapist license to each qualified applicant who applies, and applicants must meet the stated education, exam, age, and evidence requirements.
Sec. 455.156. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS FOR MASSAGE THERAPIST. (a) The department shall issue a license to each qualified applicant who applies for a massage therapist license. (b) An applicant for a license under this section must be an individual and: (1) present evidence satisfactory to the department that the person has satisfactorily completed massage therapy studies in a 500-hour minimum, supervised course of instruction in a manner provided by Subsection (c), in which at least: (A) 200 hours are taught by a licensed massage therapy instructor and dedicated to the study of massage therapy techniques and theory and the practice of manipulation of soft tissue, with at least 125 hours dedicated to the study of Swedish massage therapy techniques; (B) 50 hours are dedicated to the study of anatomy; (C) 25 hours are dedicated to the study of physiology; (D) 50 hours are dedicated to the study of kinesiology; (E) 40 hours are dedicated to the study of pathology; (F) 20 hours are dedicated to the study of hydrotherapy; (G) 45 hours are dedicated to the study of massage therapy laws and rules, business practices, and professional ethics standards; (H) 20 hours are dedicated to the study of health, hygiene, first aid, universal precautions, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and (I) 50 hours are spent in an internship program; (2) pass the required examinations; and (3) be at least 18 years of age. (c) The hours of instruction required by Subsection (b) must be provided by a massage therapy instructor at a massage school, licensed massage school, state-approved educational institution, or any combination of instructors or schools. The hours of instruction required by Subsections (b)(1)(B)-(H) may be provided using distance learning. Distance learning is not limited to live instruction. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.220(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1300 (H.B. 2696), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1399 (H.B. 2644), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1105 (H.B. 4007), Sec. 6.009, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 163 (S.B. 1130), Sec. 1, eff. May 28, 2021.